The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-22
PASSED BY The HOUSE.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
BILL A LAW.
List Ofthe Yeas aud Nays ON Its Final
Passage-rhe Vote 219 Yeas
to Al Nays.

WASHINGTON, January 2l.-Sendts.-
The presiding officer presented a com
munication from the President with a
letter from Sam @. Reed Offering to
the nation the sword Of his father,
Capt. Reed, who commanded the
privateer General Armstrong at the
battle Of Fayal. The President sug-
gested that action bs taken Tor the az
eeptsnce Of the gift. Ordered printed
and laid on the table.
Senator Spooner was appointed on
the Commit 20 on Privileges and Eiec-
tons to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Gen. Logan.
Senator Coquitt, in presenting pc
tition from tue Women's Oh istian
Temperance Union of the District OF
Columbis, said that he assumed no re-
sponsibiliry fer the startling facts re
vealed in the petition, but he did an
swer for the pure motives and high
character OF those who laid it before
the Senate. The petition was bold
and aggressive, aud challenged inves-
tigation of the facts. 1t was . plea
which mothers and wives nude to
"this body of grave and reverend
signors" for protection against such an
excess of vice and lawlessness %
should not only alarm, but humiliste,
the Senate. They could never disre
gard the voice Of woman raised in be-
half of social purity and public virtue
He asked that the petition be read at
length and referred to the District
Committee. TIE petition was read. 1t
charges the Commissioner OF the
District of Columbia with dis
Regarding the purity, safety and
moral interests OF the rights OF the
people, and asserts that, in direct vio-
1ation OF law, they have been for
months past, permitting md protect
ing gambling halls, pool rooms and
drinking ESTABLISHING t., as we'll as
dens of prostitution and vice, and
giving numerous pa tcutars. 1t
charges t1st house owned by one OF
the Commis' toner's is used as an office
by the agent OF the Louisiana State Lot
terry, and that Frank HUNS, the presi-
dent of the Liquor Dealers Association,
is a bondsman of one of the Commits
sioners. 1t therefore prsys for thor
ough investigation of the facts, and for
the proper enforcement of law and pro-
lection of homes within the District
Senator Hswley remarked that the
petition just read was a tremendous
indictment end shocking revelation,
and he suggested that Senator Col
quit should accompany it with a
resolution calling for an immediate
and severe investigation. Senator Col
quit said he did not feel it incumbent
on him to make any suRges ion to the
committee. He did not d lubt that
the committee would be in fall gym
patty with any movement to redress
these hein0us offens,s, and would
suggest proner means.
Senator ingalls,, chairman OF the
District Committee, said that the ale
cations presented in the petition had
long engaged the attention OF the
committee. There was no doubt that
there was veyy great violation, not
only of law, but of moral and social
order, in connection with these trans
actions. Licenses had bsen granted
in violation of the statutory proyis
ibnS. But in order that the Senate
and the country might understand
that the District Committee had
neither been Obvious nor neglectful
of these matters he felt it his duty to
call attention t. the fact that on Feb
ruary 4, 1886, he bad introduced a bill
regulating the sale Of distilled and fer
mented liquors in the District; and
that on the 10Th Of the same month
that bill had been reported by the
committee, and had subsequently
passed the Senate. That bill WAS now
before the District Committee OF the
House. ii the other branch of Con-
grets bad been as diligent as the SEN
ale had been, one great cause of CON-
paint las set forth in the petition)
would have been removed. The bill
was read at length. 1t requires Ii
quor license fee of 1900.
Senator platt said that, while he re-
garded high license law Sd proper,
he preferred probibitory law, and he
had intended to of ;r pronibitory
law IS a su 5stitute for the bill bat had
been unavoidably absent, on account
of sickness when that bill was before
the Senate.
The petition YVES then referred t.
the Committee on the District Of Col
umbla.
Numerous petitions were presented
by several Senators for an amendment
of the oleomargarine law, and for the
repeal of the iOternal revenue laws
and we're referred to the Committee
on Finance.
Senator Brown offered resolution,
which YVES adopted, requesting the
President to communicate to the Sen
ate copies Of all correspondence with
the government of Me Kico in regard to
the seizure and sale of the American
schooner Rebecca in the port of Tam.
pico; also. copies of all correspondence
betwte en- the Slate Department and
the late Minister Jackson, with Mr.
JscksoD's letter to the President on
the subject of his resignation.
senator Edmunds gave notice on be,
halt OF the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, that tomorrow, Immediately
after the completion of the strict
morning business, he would ask the
Senate 10 consiuer the bill respecting
the protection OF American Fl shermen,
which he had reported the other day.
Subsequently, however, the Senate
agreed to adjourn over till Monday.
A motion to reconsider the vote to
adjourn was made and dsfeated-yeas,
81; nays, 20
The Senate then went into secret
session and when the doors were re-
opened adjourned till Monday,